Obituaries for July 21, 2022

Colin V. Moore

GALLUP – Funeral services for Colin Von Moore, 51, of Twin Lakes, New Mexico, will be held Friday, July 22, at 1:30 p.m., at Rollie Mortuary in Gallup, with Harry Plummer officiating. Burial will follow at the family plot in Twin Lakes.

Colin was born March 19, 1971, in Gallup, into the Tódíchii’nii (Bitter Water Clan), born for Tl’ógí (Zia Clan). He passed away July 10, 2022, in Phoenix.

Colin graduated from Highland High School and attended Diné College earning a heavy equipment and CDL through NM Department of Workforce Solutions.

Colin is survived by his wife, Becky Moore; sons, Cree and Urijah Moore; daughters, Aalieya and Shishonney Moore; parents, Janet and Henry Moore; brothers, Sean Moore and Nyles Moore; sister, Shannon Moore James; and one grandchild.

Colin is preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Alice and Emerson Cadman; and paternal grandparents, Marie and Frank Moore.

Pallbearers will be Nyles Moore, Cree Moore, Seth Moore, Elijah Sylvester, Andrew Gordon and Kevin Manuelito.

Honorary pallbearers will be Urijah Moore, Carter Moore, Taneil Moore, Shantee Begay and Kelcee Sylvester.

A reception will take place at the Calvary Assembly of Church in Yah-Ta-Hey, New Mexico, following services.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Hedy L. Bahe

JEDDITO, Ariz. – Funeral services for Hedy Lamar Bahe, 89, of Jeddito, Arizona, will be held Friday, July 22, at 10 a.m.

Hedy was born Nov. 9, 1932, in Jeddito, into the Big Water Clan, born for Water’s Edge Clan. She passed away July 16, 2022, in Jeddito.

Hedy attended Keams Canyon Catholic School and was a homemaker. She enjoyed weaving rugs, farming (planting corn, squash, watermelon), cooking, reading and spending time with family.

Hedy is survived by her sons, Ambrose Bahe and Lionel Yazzie; daughters, Peggy Scott, Patsy Bahe and Carol Bahe; and brother, Larry Cepi.

Hedy is preceded in death by her husband, Jerry Bahe; parents, Don and Bah Cepi; brothers, Dennis Cepi and Bobby Cepi; and sisters, Virginia Lucy Belin and Laverne Belin.

A reception will take place at the Hedy Bahe family residence in Jeddito, following services.

Lyle P. Tabaha

GALLUP – Funeral services for Lyle Paul Tabaha, 40, of Houck, Arizona, will be held Friday, July 22, at 10 a.m., at Cope Memorial in Gallup, with Deacon Ed officiating. Burial will follow at the Houck community cemetery.

Lyle was born March 27, 1982, in Gallup, into the Towering House Clan, born for One-walks-around Clan. He passed away July 13, 2022, in Sanders, Arizona.

Lyle is a 2000 graduate of Valley High School in Sanders and attended Haskell University. He worked with the Arizona State Department of Transportation and was employed with Western Building Group as a fabricator.

Lyle is survived by his sons, Korbin and Kyler Tabaha; daughters, Annik, Ashley and Alnahbah Tabaha; parents, Virginia and Leroy Tabaha; and brothers, Lynol Tabaha, Lance Tabaha and Larson Tabaha.

Lyle is preceded in death by his wife, Latishia Tabaha; stepbrother, Micheal L. Mata; maternal grandparents, Emma and David Ashley; and paternal grandparents, Matilda Martine and Celso Tabaha.

Pallbearers will be Korbin Tabaha, Kyler Tabaha, Lynol Tabaha, Lance Tabaha, Larson Tabaha and Clement Ashley Jr.

Honorary pallbearers will be Joseph Yazzie, Norman Chester, Johansen Wilson, Joshua Watchman, Ardell Watchman, Leonard Tabaha and Chris Smith.

A drive-thru reception will take place at the Houck Chapter House, following services.

Cope Memorial is in charge of arrangements.

Sgt. Charles E. Naha

FORT DEFIANCE – Graveside service for Sgt. Charles Emerson Naha, 51, of Jeddito, Arizona, will be held today, July 21, at 10 a.m., at the Navajo Nation Veterans Cemetery in Fort Defiance, with Pastor Roscoe Smith officiating.

Sgt. Naha was born Aug. 29, 1970, in Keams Canyon, Arizona, into the Táchii’nii Clan, born for Tewa. He passed away July 7, 2022, in Portland, Oregon.

Sgt. Naha attended Keams Canyon Public School and Ganado High School. He enjoyed painting, drawing, traveling, texting, playing his guitar, and loved to help his family and relatives.

Sgt. Naha is survived by his mother, Carol Chaca; brothers, Manuel Chaca and Rodney Chaca; and sister, Cheryl Chaca-Romo.

Sgt. Naha is preceded in death by his aunt, Karletta Naha; uncle, Clarence P. Begay Jr.; and grandmother, Sarah N. Begay.

Pallbearers will be Manuel Chaca, Trevor Chaca, Isaiah Chaca, Rodney Chaca, Mathew Kirk, Tyler Kirk and Xavier Lomavaya.

Honorary pallbearers will be Kevin Quintana, Shawn Sanderson, Tom Sanderson, Richard Frank, Herman Nelson Sr. and Barney Woodie.

A drive-thru reception will take place at the Assembly of God Church in Fort Defiance, following service.

Silver Creek Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Joseph Barney

MEXICAN SPRINGS, N.M. – Graveside service for Joseph Barney, 93, of Mexican Springs, New Mexico, were held July 15 at the Lone Pine Cemetery in Mexican Springs.

Joseph was born May 1, 1929, in Mexican Springs, into the Kinyaa’áanii (Towering House Clan), born for To’ahaní Yashchin (Near the Water Clan). He passed away July 10, 2022, in Mexican Springs.

Joseph worked for BNSF Railway Company, Navajo Forest Products Industry, Nelson Construction and Navajo Nation Security where he received a retirement award.

Joseph enjoyed hauling wood, traveling, fishing, watching Western movies, and was a collector of many things. He loved animals, spending time with his family and 10 children, taking care of his dogs, and was the kindest, most sweetest, and best grandfather ever.

Joseph is survived by his three sons, four stepdaughters, and 30 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Joseph is preceded in death by his wife, Helen Yazzie Barney; brothers, John D. Barney Jr. and Paul Barney; sisters, Edith Lacy, Nanabah Barney, Bildesbah Barney, Ethel Barney, Matilda Barney, and Yilhanaabah Barney; and one son, two stepdaughters, and parents.

Pallbearers were Jasper Barney, Ace Barney, Jesse Barney, Julius White, Jordan Alldredge, and Kerry Alldredge.

Honorary pallbearer was DeAngel Barney.

Rollie Mortuary was in charge of arrangements.

Frank Adakai (June 26, 1940 – July 6, 2022)

ALBUQUERQUE – Frank Adakai was born June 26, 1940, in Fort Defiance, to Fred and Lenita Adakai.

Proud tribal member of the Navajo Nation, Frank grew up in Manuelito, New Mexico, the oldest of 12 brothers and sisters. He spent time herding sheep and learning the traditional ceremony ways from his grandmother, Nazbah.

Frank loved riding his horse while herding sheep and when it came time to go to school at the counsel of his grandparents, parents, uncles, and aunts, he attended school in Manuelito, Fort Defiance, and finished high school at Phoenix Indian School.

He returned to Manuelito and entered the Navajo Nation Police.

When Frank was stationed in Window Rock, he met the love of his life, Corie Moran, in 1961. He has always described the first time he saw her as “love at first sight.” They married on Dec. 22, 1962. Throughout the years, Frank and Corie were inseparable.

During his law enforcement career, Frank was stationed in Manuelito, Chinle, Tuba City, and Window Rock. In 1973, he attended the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia. Upon his completion, Corie attended his graduation ceremony. He became a federal agent and started working for the Bureau of Indian Affairs until 1998.

Frank and Corie traveled north up into Canada each year for several months in the summer to spend time with family and take part in Corie’s Midewiwin ceremonies. The Midewiwin family always invited him to partake in the ceremonies and to be part of, but he would say, “No, I am watching and learning.”

Loving husband, father, papa, great-grandfather, uncle, brother, and son who was always willing to give a hand to those who asked for assistance. Wonderful man Frank was. He was kind, caring, loving, compassionate, and believed in his ways and lived his life of 82 years working hard and enjoying his family.

In the 59 years of marriage, Frank, Corie and children moved about 12 times. Corie followed her loving husband in his occupation in the criminal justice system. During the 37.5 years, Frank, Corie and their family resided on the Navajo Reservation in Tuba City, Chinle, Many Farms, and Window Rock. They lived on the Mescalero Apache Reservation in Mescalero, New Mexico; Shoshone Arapahoe Reservation in Fort Washakie, Wyoming; Red Lake Ojibwa Reservation in Red Lake, Minnesota; and Rosebud Sioux Reservation in Mission, South Dakota.

They also resided in Washington, D.C., Central Office of Criminal Justice, for one year before Frank was reassigned to the Albuquerque regional office. Frank and Corie moved back to Albuquerque in 1985 and purchased their home in Paradise Hills.

Frank, along with his beloved Corie, spent many years helping their community. They contributed by organizing youth baseball leagues, boxing leagues, basketball leagues, wellness conferences, powwows, and entertainment. Proactivity and prevention being the underlying theme.

Frank was the founder, planner, organizer and coordinator of the New Year’s Eve Sobriety Powwow. This powwow was founded based on New Year’s being the deadliest period for vehicle crashes. The powwow started as a one-day event but later became a two-day event. The New Year’s Sobriety Powwow was planned, organized and coordinated for 15 years.

Frank was also the founder, planner, organizer and coordinator of the annual Wellness/Healing Skills Conference held for 12 years in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. The conference was founded based on assisting people in learning how to maintain a healthy lifestyle. He made sure the facilitators for the conference were all Native Indian professionals who were well qualified and held educational credentials.

The conference was attended by councilors, social service, police officers, and behavioral health professionals. In addition, other community people were invited and attended the conference. The conference awarded 21 hours of Continuing Education Units, sanctioned by the state of New Mexico Credentialing Board.

Frank became an actor and was a member of the Screen Actors Guild. In the 12 years of his acting, he was selected for the following films: “Every Hour,” “Everyday Police” film, “A Thousand Roads,” “Seven Arrows Telenova,” “Swing Vote,” “Almas de la Santa Fe,” “This Must be the Place,” “Tiger Eyes,” “All In A Day’s Work,” and “Graves.” Commercials include Nissan Pathfinder, TBWA Worldwide/Chiat/Day Second Hand Smoke, Direct Buy, and tourism between South Korea/USA.

Frank lost his beloved “beautiful Bbaby,” as he called Corie, on April 24, 2022. He was so brokenhearted, especially knowing that they would have been married 60 years this coming December 2022. He missed his lifelong love of his life, Corie. On May 14, 2022, he took his beloved back to North Dakota.

All in all, everything comes to an end. Everyone will experience advancement in age and become an elder. People will also experience health problems prohibiting and limiting things they use to do in life. Frank would say, “Corie always said there was no exception.” Corie’s main complaint was “People lie, Golden Age gives you grief, as you become very limited and health problems become very imminent.”

Surviving family members of Frank are his children, Kurt David of Albuquerque, Jaylene (husband Mike) of Rio Rancho, and Kevin Wade of Santa Fe; siblings, Rose Austin, Patrick Adakai, Pauline Myers, and Justin Adakai; and four grandchildren and three great-grandsons.

Frank is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Corie Moran; father, Fred Adakai; mother, Lenita YahDiBah Adakai; sisters, Stella Adakai, Bessie Johnson, Louise Lucero, Anita Adakai and Anna Aarseth; and brothers, Jerry Adakai, Alvin Adakai and Paul Adakai.

Frank will be missed as many have shared stories and have made it known: Mr. Adakai was a legend.

Travis W. Stewart

CHINLE – Committal service for Travis W. Stewart, 56, of Phoenix, was held July 1 in Chinle, performed by Pastor Artie Aragon. Private burial followed in Many Farms, Arizona.

Travis was born July 3, 1965, in Fort Defiance, into the Tl’ááshchí’í (Red Bottom People Clan), born for Bit’ahni (Folded Arms Clan). He passed away June 5, 2022, in Phoenix.

Travis was a hardworking electrician (journeyman electrician/wireman, controls installer) from 1990 to 2022. His work was mostly in Arizona, but employment opportunities took him to Nevada, Utah, North Dakota, New Mexico and New York.

Travis was a gifted artist in pencil drawing, painting and wood carving. He enjoyed spending time outdoors, fishing and doing farm work. He was kind, funny, generous and was always trying to find a way to give back.

Travis is survived by his daughters, Ashley and Vanessa Stewart; sisters, Starlena Stewart, Felipita Kenneth and Victoria Stewart; and grandchildren.

Travis is preceded in death by his parents, Gail Y. Stewart and Robert B. Stewart Sr.; and brothers, Robert B. Stewart Jr. and Fred Stewart.

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